Improvement in hand-rests



E. L.'M-ARSHAL-L & A. E. COLBY. v

, HAND-RESTS. No.184,402. Y Patented Nov.14.-, 1876 Witnesses I I [nntors Y 5039JMQMQydk-fib TED STATES TENT OFFICE.

EDWIN L. MARSHALL AND AMOS E. COLBY, OF CLEVELAND, 'onro.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-RESTS.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,402, dated November 14, 1876; application filed September 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, EDWIN L. MARSHALL and AMOS E. COLBY, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Bookkeepers Arm and Hand Rest; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and complete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of the same.

Figure l is a view of a book having applied thereto the rest. Fig. 2 is a side view of the rest detached.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

The nature of this invention relates to a rest applied to the foot of an account-book or other book, whereon those making entries may rest the hand while writing on the lines at the foot of the page, and thereby relieve the hand and arm from a cramped or strained position, and thus facilitate the act of recording in the book.

The rest alluded to consists of a pallet or board, A, in length about the width of a page of a book, and sufficiently wide to afiord a rest for the arm and hand holding the pen. In the upper edge of the board are inserted fingers B,.consisting of short thin strips of metal.

O is a spring-clamp, consisting of a piece of wire bent double, as shown in Fig. 2. To one branch, D, of the clamp is attached, by straps or hinges E E, the rest or board A. In the hinge E is cut a slot or notch for the accommodation of the pin a, inserted in the branch D of the clamp, to prevent the hinge fromslidin g thereon and from becoming displaced.

F is a band connecting the two branches of the clamp, retaining them in a parallel and distant relation to each other, as shown in the drawing. Said band may be placed above the hinge E, in which event the pin a and notch in the hinge may be dispensed with, as the band will prevent the hinge from sliding on the clamp. There may be one or more of said bands used in connection with the clamp.

The application of the rest to the book for the purpose specified is shown in Fig. 1, in which it will be seen that the branch D of the clamp is inserted between the back of the leaves and the inside of the back of the cover of the book G,.as indicated by the dotted lines I), or otherwise, thus clamping the .book between the two branches of the clamp,

which will prevent the board from slipping. The edge of the board is adjusted to the edge of the foot of the page H, with the fingers B resting just upon the margin below the last line. This application of the board makes a rest for the hand below the page, so that the last line or lines can be written upon with a resting hand, the same as when writther explanation will be necessary.

The board or rest being hinged to the'clamp allows of its being readily turned from .one page to the other, as from right to the left, and from left to right, without removing the clamp from the book.

Should the leaves of the book be inclined to spring upward, as is often the case in new books or thick paper, the rest may be pushed upward, so as to bring the edge of the board upon the edge of the page instead of the fingers. The entire length will thus be laid up on the page, which will press it down smoothly and flat, to be written upon.

Hand-rests ordinarily used for the purpose above specified are inserted under the leaves, which lifts them up, forming an uneven surface and a ridge by the edge of the board. The board also soils and injures the page. This is avoided by the use of our improved rest, which is not inserted between the leaves hence it can neither the paper.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-- 1. The clamp O, in combination with the board A, substantially in the manner as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The notched hinge E, pin a, and band E, in combination with the board A and clamp O, in the manner as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. In book-rests, the band A, hinged to the clamp O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- EDWIN L. MARSHALL.

Witnesses: AMOS E. COLBY.

J. H. BURRIDGE, E. W. Oaoss.

lift them up nor injure 

